Vending chart



sept. 7 1926 1,598,765 J. H. BOYE VENDING CHART Filed Dec. e, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 7 192e.

J. H. BQYE -VENDING CHART 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 8, 1923 Sept. 7 1926.

' Y 1,598,705 J. H. BOYE i VENDING CHART .a sheets-she# s Filed Dec. 8, 1923 QQ. mw.

Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES H. BOYE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES H. BOYE MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, O F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VENDING CHART.

Application filed December This invention relates to an improved device in the general nature of a vending chart for facilitating the identication and sale of certain classes of merchandise in retail stores. The device shown in the drawings and hereinafter described relates to curtain fixtures, and the invention has been more especially designed With a vieiv to its use in the retail merchandising of this particu lar class of articles; but manifestly it may be used with equal advantage to facilitate the merchandising` of other articles Which are handled in the same general manner.

li/lanufacturers of curtain liXtur-es usually put out a considerable line of specifically varying fixtures designed to serve Windows of varying Widths, as Well as single, double, triple and quadruple Windows and also employing single, double and triple curtain rods for single and double curtains, Valances and overdrapes. In the merchandising of such articles, it has long` been the general practice to supply the retail dealer with unit packages from the factory; a unit package being a package containing all of the parts, sucii as rods, brackets, extension pieces, etc. required for a particular size or character' of Window; and since the specific requirements of these diferent sizes and characters of Windows and their varying curtain equipments are quite numerous, a large number of different unit packages are required, and the retail dealer is required to carry in stock a large number of each unit package, or else order the same from the factory With undue frequency.

rllhe actual parts going to make up the several unit packages are, to a very large extent, duplicates. For instance, the same end brackets are used on practically all of the different styles and sizes. Extension pieces. used to lengthen the rods, are practically the same in all of the various prescribed lengths of curtain rods. The intermediate supporting brackets are the same in assemblies requiring one, two or more intermediate brackets. Hence, it would naturally prove a great advantage to the retail dealer if, instead of buying a large quantity of the va 'ious unit packages, he could buy the parts required to make up the several units in bulk, and then select and combine them as they are called for by his trade. To do this, however, would naturally require an intimate knoufledge on the part of s, i923. serial No. 679,433.

the dealer of the specific make-up of each style of fixture and also an elaborate pricelist, from which he could compute the total cost of each specific outfit as ordered. The primary purpose or object of the present invention is to provide, for the use of the retail dealer, a device in the nature of a vending chart or guide, through the manual manipulation of which he can readily ascertain, first the specific parts or equipment required to make up a given order, and secondly the price he should charge for the complete order. The specific equipment required being shown by the chart, the parts can be quickly selected and Wrapped up from bulk stock; and the retail price of the assembly being shown by the chart, the salesman is saved the trouble of consulting' price lists of the individual parts and totalling them. Another object of the invention is to provide, in such a chart, means for displaying to the customer a picture or cut of the particular equipment he has ordered, with a brief description thereof, so that he can, at a glance, check up on the salesman and see that the latter is properly filling his order.

The retail price of the goods naturallyI varies from time to time and in different localities. For instance, the cost of the goods at the factory may rise and fall from time to time, and the retail dealer naturally has to vary the retail price accordingly. Again, some dealers are located at or near the factory source with, consequently, little or no freight or express charges to pay on the goods; While others are located at a greater distance, with correspondingly higher freight and express charges, making necessary higher retailv prices. My invention, therefore, includes, in its most complete and preferred form, What I may term an adjustable price indicator, which can be set by the individual dealer to shovv the proper retail price atany given-time or in any given locality.

My present invention, its novel structural features, mode of manipulation, and practical advantages to facilitate the retail merchandising of goods that are put out in various sizes and styles and at varying costs will all be readily understood by dealers in this class of merchandise and others skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following detailed description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one practical embodiment f the invention which has been found in practice to satisfactorily effectuate the stated purposes and objects of the invention, and in which- Fig. 1 is a topp plan view, showing my improved vending chart mounted on top of a base or support5 the latter also serving as a sample support; e

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rotary disc on which are displayed in the forni of sectors the several unit equipments, each secthe stationary cover plate, showing certain openings therein through 'which indicia on the underlying rotary' chart disc are eX- posed; Y

Figs. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional details on the li -es 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, of

Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the slide locking cap, and

Fig. 10 is a top view of a pivot stud on which the rotary chart disc is mounted.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates as an entirety a rectangular support for tie chart which preferably takes the forni of a box having' a hinged lid, as indicated in Fig.

17 which box may be further utilized as a container for certain smaller parts o-f the Vmerchandise` such as the end and intermediate brackets of curtain fixtures in the instance shown. One side of this box may conveniently b-e utilized as a support for sample specimens of the goods indicated at 11.

12 designates as an entirety a circular sheet metal cover plate, `the-same being formed with a narrow depending rim 13 (Fig. having an outwardly directed annular flange 14 by which it is secured to the lid of the box 10 by screws 15., The plate 12 is centrally apertured Yto receive the hub 16 (Figs. 3 and l) of an underlying circular rotary chart disc 17 shown in isolated detail in Fig. 2. As herein shown, the lower end of the hub 16 is narrowed to receive the chart disc 17 andthe latter is non-rotatably secured thereon by an underlying clamping and stifl'ening disc 18 and a swaged flange 19 on the lower end of the hub. Preferably, and as shown in Fig. 4,` the hub is formed with azcentral bore, the upper portion of which is tapped and'thelower portion of which is tapered to titand be'centered upon a conical supporting stud 2O that rests upon the upper surface of the main support 10 but is not connected to the latter.

On the upper surface of the cover plate l2 are lithographed or otherwise printed a group of radially disposed indicia of the goods7 `each member of the group, designated as an entirety by 21 preferably coniprising a cut or other picture of a complete curtain fixture with printed matter indicating its style and size. 'At one point in the plate, just inwardly of the periphery thereofa yis formed a rectangular opening 22, and diametrically opposite the same are formed a pair of openings 23 and 2i (Fig. 6) in radial alineinent7 with the narrower opening 2-3 nearerthe center. Between the openings 23 and 24 the metal of the plate is pressed upwardly to forni a guide 25 ig. 7) for a slide hereinafter referred to winch, in co-operation with the price indicating nurmerels on the underlying chartV disc, controls the visible price indications.

Referring to Fig. 2` on the upper face of the chart disc 1T are lithographed or otherwise printed a group of radially arranged and generally sector-shaped indicia, each member of the group rbeing designated as an entirety by 26` Each member of the group comprises a group of price indicating numerals designated as a whole by 27 located nearest the center' of the disc, printed speciiications of the make-up of a particular' style of fixture designated as a whole by 28 and located-outwardly of the price group 2'?. and a descriptive group comprising a cut or other picture of the xture and printed inatter descriptive of itsv style and size designated as a whole by 29 and located near the circumference. lt will be observed that the members 277 28 and 29 of the several sectorshapcdgroups of indicia malte up respectively concentric circula rows, the items in each row being all of the same character. rifhe radial groups 26 on the rotary chart 1T correspond in number and subject nlatter with the radial groups 21 on the cover plate. As shown in Fig. 3 the chart disc 17 is housed within and hen-cath the cover plate 12, and to facilitate the tur `ing of ne disc with a minimum of frictional resistance, said disc has preferably formed thereon near its circumference upwardly and downwardlj-,fY punched protuberances 30 and 31, the ferner of which engage with4 the und-er side of the cover plate and the latterv with the top ot' the support 10. 1

Referring again to Fig. 1, on the t u face of the cover plate just outward y of the opening 241 is printed stateinen 82 d scriptive of the indicia on thechart Gis showing through theopening and wardly of the descriptive matter 82 is auditional printed matter designated as an entirety by 33 descriptive et the make-up and additional cost of articles outside the size limits shown and identilied on the top the chart.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, designates a flat sheet-nietal slide at its outer end engaged with the slideway 25 oit the cover plate and hai/'ing a forked inner end which slidably straddles the upper end portion ott the disc huh lo that projects upwardly through the central aperture oit 'the cover plate l2. in the slide 8T is 'termed a transversely extending,` rectangular slot 35 of a width sullicient to expose therethrough one ot the groups ot numerals 2i on the underlying chart disc 17; the slide at the same time concealing from View the other numerals et the group. Between the slot and the torlred inner end ol" the slide are :termed a group ot' small slots 36 corresponding in number with the numerals el the group 2? on the chart discN Si designates a circular cap hating a central aperture 38 of a size to lit over the upper end portion of the hub le above the iorled inner' end et the slide 3l, and with a narrow annular de pending' flange B9 that is termed with a transverse notch l0 (Fig. 9) et a width to straddle the shank o1e the slide 3d. Central ly ot the not-ch l0 is a depending locking' tongue il adapted to interlock with any one oit the small notches 35 in the slide 231i.

At its extreme upper end the huh 1G is reduced in diameter and `given an irregular circumferential shape, as showM at Ll2 in lli l() to lit a correspondingly shaped hole in the end of a pointer Li3; the purpose et the irregular shape et the pointer hearingl hei to insure that the pointer can he mounted en the post. in one position only. The pointer is securedon the upper end et the post hy a clamp screw elflthat screws into the tapped bore et the huh 1G; and en the base of the pointer are preferably :termed a pair ojlf upstanding parallel lugs l5 that may he grasped by the thumb and ringer et the operator to turn the pointer and therehy turn the-underhJing cha t disc.

lllhen the pointer is turned the chart is rotated beneath the cover plate "nflseveral outer groups 29 on the chart disc are successively brought into a position in which they are visible through the opening' 22. At the same time one et the price indicating' nun'ierals in the lgroups 2?' lis rendered risihle through the openingV 33 of the cover plate and the narrower opt-nine 35 et he slide har the particular numeral ot e: ch `group that elrposed dei'ieudingg' upon die position ot the slide har. lit tie same timi also the several equipn'ient describing' groups 2S of the chart disc are successively eiposed ll'u'eug'h the opening; @el et the cover plate,

ln the practical 'use et die device the sir-,me

is preferably located on the counter et the retail store with the forward end thereof, which carries the samples ll, toward the front end et vthe counter and facing the customer. ji ,lumir-g, ter exau'iple, that the customer calls tor a single curtain .rod adj `stable from tortysia to seventy-sir: inches, the salesman swings the.pointer t3 to that one of the several radial groups 2l on the cover plate which corresponds to the order. Vll'iis swings` the underlying; dise chart te a position wherein there disclosed tl'u'ough the opening' 22, in 'lull View ot the customer', the corresponding indicia 29 oit the article ordered, thereby showing' to the customer that the salesman has correctly understood the order. rli'he same movement brings into View through the opening Q-Li the description et the equipmenhnecessary to lill the order, ed in the group 28 on the underlyinp,1 chart disc; such description appearing in a position to he easily read hy the salesman standing leeliind the counter. The same movement also brings into View ot the salesman through the slot 35 oit the slide that one ot the group 2? et price irnicatinfg numerals which gives the retail price et t ie article ordered. llith this information shown by the indicator, the salesman readily picks out from hu l; .stock parts prescribed at the opening' wraps them up and delivers them and receives in return the amount of cash indicated tlirougg'h the opening S5. ln this way an order tor any et the remaining' eleven styles shown is quickly ascertained and tillen, and the proper price the eter charged by simply swinging' the pointer i3 to the paiticular style ordered. llan order requiring lixtures shorter or longer than the minimum and maximum lengths shown on the indie-atei' plate received, the equipment and price et the particular style ordered are detern'iined in the manner already described, and the inoicia on the cover plate instruct the salesiiian with respect to the proper decrease 'from or increase to the price indicated through the slot 35.

`litlheueyer cl'iangije is made in the retail price tti-em one to another of the ii'rures indicated in the groups 227 on the chart disc, the pointer and cap are removed hy taking' out the screw lid, and the slide 231iis adjusted inwardly or outwardly so te disclose through its slot the desired new list ot prices, and it is locked in its new position hy reducing the locking cap with its locking; lug; Lll engaged with the proper slet 53? ot the slide har. the device herein dis closed l h are shown hut. three groups et retail price indications; hut manifestly the principle may he ended within the radial liuiits oit the dei; ice.

The stud shown in Fie'. lis not neces-v sary to' the practical operation o the device, out is prei'I y e-iployed to anord a solid `indicated on the face of the chart.

fitting for the lower end of the hub 16 on the support l when making the price indicating adjustments above-described involving' the withdrawal and subsequent replace.- ment of the locking cap, pointer and clamp screw, and also to transfer the weightof the rotary chartdisc from the cover plate l2 to the foundation support lO.

ils have already indicated in this specification, the device of the present invention possesses marke-d utility and 4 economy in several important respects. ln the first place, it saves the very considerable ei;- pense involved in the present practice of putting up the several styles in unit packages, and enables the retail dealer to purchase bull; equipment and himself assemble therefrom the equipment required to lill any particular order. lt also tells the salesman at a glance the full vequipment required to accurately lill an order for any of thestyles It also displays to the salesman the correct price to be charged for' the order, making it unnecessary for him to Search different price lists of the several items making up the complete order and adding them up. It also advises him as to the correct charge for extra and unusual pieces; and, finally, it enables the cust-Omer to see at a `glance that his order has been correctly understood, and to check up on the salesmans charge,

l have herein shown and described one particular Vembodiment of the invention which, in practice, has been found to satisfactorily fulfill the stated purposes and objects thereof; but it is manifest that the specific details may be widely varied from those shown both as to subject matter and manner of grouping without involvingany departure from the-principle of the invention or sacrificing any of the' advantages thereof. l-ence lf reserve all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and purview ofthe appended claims.

l claiml. ln vending' chart of the character described, the combination of a stationary cover plate formed with three openings at 'different radial distances from the center thereof, a plate carrying three concentric circular rows of printed items wiich are successively exposed to view through said openings respectively as said disc turned, the items in one row being descriptive of different styles of assembled articles of' merchandise, the items in another row being definitive of the equipment of said 'different styles, and the items in the third row inuicatingthe prices of said different styles., and manually operable means for rotating said disc.`

2. ln a vending' chart of the character described, the combination of a centrally apertured stationary cover plate having on its 1otatable disc beneath said cover upper surface a circular row of equally spaced printed items descriptive of dillerenli styles of assembled articles of merchandise and formed with three openings at different radial distances from the center of said row, one of said openings being diametrically Iopposite to the other two, a rotatable disc beneath said cover plate having a hub e);- tending through the aperture of said cover plate and carrying three concentric circular rows of printed items which are successively exposed to view through said openings respectively as said disc is turned, the Yitems 1n one row being descriptive of the differentstyles of assembled articles of merchandise shown on said cover plate, the items in anotner row bein-g" definitive of the equipment of said dilferent styles, and the items in the third row indicating the prices of said different styles, manually operable means for rotating said disc, and a pointer on the upper end of said hub; the parts being so' coordinated that when said pointer is swung to a position indicating any item on said cover plate the corresponding' descriptive item on said disc will show through one of said openings and the equipment and price indicating items on said disc pertaining thereto will show through the other two openings diametrically opposite to said last named opening.

3. In a vending chart of the character described, the combination of a stationary cover plate formed with an opening', a disc beneath said cover plate mounted to turn on an axis eccentric to said openingand having' on its upper side a plurality of groups of radially arranged price-indicating items so located as to pass successively beneath said opening as said disc is turned, means associated with said opening and ad instable to Acover different parts thereof whereby only items of the several groups which are at equal distances from the axis of the disc are rendered visible through said opening, and means for locking said cover means in adjusted position.

4. In a vending chart of the character described, the combination of a stationary cover plate formed with an openingv eccentrically thereof, a rotatable disc beneath and concentric with said cover plate carrying a plurality of concentric circular rows of price-indicating numerals, individual numerals of the several rows being arranged in radial groups which pass successively be neath saidopening as said disc is turnecheri lill) trically thereof, a rotatable disc beneath and concentric with said cover plate carrying a plurality of concentric circular rows of price-indicating numerals, individual numerals of the several rows being arranged in radial groups which pass successively beneath said opening as said disc is turned, a slideway on said cover plate, a radial slide engaged with said slideway and overlying said opening, said slide itself formed with an opening of a size to expose but one numeral of each radial group, and means for locking said slide in adjusted position.

6. In a vending chart of the character described, the combination of a centrally apertured stationary cover plate formed with an opening eccentrically thereof and with a slideway adjacent to said opening, a rotatable disc beneath said cover plate having a hub extending through said opening'. and carrying a plurality of concentric circular rows of price-indicating numerals, individual numerals of the several rows being arranged in radial groups which pass successively beneath said opening as said disc is turned, a slide having a forked inner end straddling the upper end of said hub an-d at its outer end engaged with said .slideway, said slide formed with an opening of a size to expose but one numeral of each radial group, and means for locking said slide in endwise adjusted position.

'l'. In a vending chart of the character described, the combination of a centrally apertured stationary cover plate formed with an opening eccentrically thereof and with a slideway radially beyond said opening, a rotatable disc beneath said cover plate having a hub extending through said opening and carrying a plurality of concentric circular rows of price-indicating numerals, individual numerals of theseveral rows being arranged in radial groups which pass successively beneath said opening as said disc is turned, a slide having a forked inner end straddling the upper end of said hub, a plurality of apertures spaced lengthwise there-- of, and at its outer end engaged with said slideway, said slide formed with an opening of a size to expose but one numeral of each radial group, and cap removably mounted on the upper end of said hub and formed with a locking lug engageable with. any of said apertures in said slide whereby to loch the latter in endwise adjusted position.

8. In a vending chart of the character den scribed, the combination of a Hat base plate, a shallow sheet-metal cover plate formed with a circumferential flange detachably se cured to said base plate, said cover plate having a central aperture and an eccentrically disposed opening, and a :tlat sheetmetal disc beneath said cover plate having a hub journaled in the central aperture of the latter, and having on its upper side a circular row of printed indicia successively visible through said opening of the cover plate as said disc is turned, said disc also formed with upwardly and downwardly pressed lugs in sliding engagement with the under surface of said cover plate and the top surface of said base plate, respectively, as said disc is turned.

9. l'n a vending chart of the character dcscribed, the combination of a cover plate formed with an opening, a movable chart plate beneath said cover plate having thereon a plurality of parallel rows of printed items, said rows indicating respectively different prices of various articles of merchandise indicated on the chart, laterally adjacent items in the several rows passing successively into register with .said opening as said chart plate is moved, and aslide covering said opening and itself formed with an opening of a width substantially equal to one of said rows, whereby only items of one of said rows are visible through said opening in any set position of said slide.

JAMES H. BOYE. 

